Optometry Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Optometry, including details on myopia, optometric practice, therapy.

The electro-oculogram.

Arden GB, Constable PA

Department of Optometry and Visual Science, Henry Wellcome Laboratiories for Visual Sciences, City University, London, UK. g.arden@city.ac.uk

The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) lying distal to the retina regulates the extracellular environment and provides metabolic support to the outer retina. RPE abnormalities are closely associated with retinal death and it has been claimed several of the most important diseases causing blindness are degenerations of the RPE. Therefore, the study of the RPE is important in Ophthalmology. Although visualisation of the RPE is part of clinical investigations, there are a limited number of methods which have been used to investigate RPE function. One of the most important is a study of the current generated by the RPE. In this it is similar to other secretory epithelia. The RPE current is large and varies as retinal activity alters. It is also affected by drugs and disease. The RPE currents can be studied in cell culture, in animal experimentation but also in clinical situations. The object of this review is to summarise this work, to relate it to the molecular membrane mechanisms of the RPE and to possible mechanisms of disease states.

Published 24 March 2006 in Prog Retin Eye Res, 25(2): 207-48.
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